The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), an invasive species originating from the Atlantic, has increasingly threatened the ecosystem of the Adriatic Sea in recent years.
Its rapid reproduction and aggressive behavior pose a threat to local biodiversity. To reduce their negative impact, the Institute’s staff is conducting commercial fishing activities and population monitoring for the blue crab in the Natura 2000 – Neretva River Delta ecological network.
On February 5, 2025, the Institute’s project team visited the Neretva estuary together with Emanuel Trolli from the company Blue Marine Service (BMS), who presented special traps for catching blue crabs. During the visit, additional information was gathered from local fishermen who shared their experiences and challenges with this species. They were also introduced to the project objectives and the planned activities to control the blue crab population.
These activities will be carried out as part of the Blue Diversity project, which aims to develop innovative tools to assess biodiversity and ecosystem services and implement sustainable solutions for the protection of the marine environment.
